RF Transceiver Calibration via Segmented LO and Mixer
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Solution Overview
Problem
RF transceivers face IQ mismatch and carrier leakage issues due to manufacturing costs, process variations, and power consumption, leading to suboptimal performance in both transmission and reception paths.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a first compensator for the transmission path, a second compensator for the reception path, an estimator, and a translational mixer, which calibrate the RF transceiver by compensating in-phase and quadrature baseband signals, mixing compensation signals, and estimating parameters to minimize image signal powers using a binary search algorithm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single Local Oscillator (LO) is used for both transmission and reception paths, then device complexity and power consumption are reduced, but IQ mismatch and carrier leakage occur due to amplitude and phase imbalances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single LO into two separate LOs: a transmission LO for the transmission path and a reception LO for the reception path. This segmentation allows each LO to be independently optimized for its specific path, eliminating IQ mismatch and carrier leakage while maintaining acceptable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a translational mixer as an intermediary component between the transmission path and reception path. This mixer translates the transmission signal to a different frequency range, allowing the reception path to process the signal without direct interference from the transmission LO, thus resolving the imbalance issues
2Reliability
If compensation parameters are adjusted to fix IQ mismatch and carrier leakage, then signal quality improves, but calibration complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-calibration mechanism where the system automatically estimates compensation parameters by analyzing the received signal characteristics. The estimator module processes the signal through the reception path and extracts necessary information to calculate optimal compensation values, eliminating the need for external calibration equipment and reducing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the received signal is processed through the reception path, and the estimator module uses the output to calculate compensation parameters. These parameters are then fed back to adjust the transmission path, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes signal quality without manual intervention
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively calibrates carrier leakage and IQ mismatch in both transmission and reception paths, improving the RF transceiver's performance by eliminating interference and optimizing signal processing.
Implementation Method 1
the translational mixer located in between the transmission path and the reception path is configured to generate a compensation signal S tm with a frequency of f tm , mix the compensation signal S tm and a received transmission RF signal Tx_out to obtain a mixed signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3a
Figure 3b~4
AI summary
Disclosed is a system, method and computer storage medium for calibrating a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver, and the system includes a compensator for a transmission path, a compensator for a reception path, an estimator, a memory and a translational mixer (figure 2).